Forklifts are used by many industries; doing regular maintenance is important to ensure your forklift continues to run smoothly. If you don’t maintain your forklift regularly, it can lead to more replacements and repairs as they might break down more.
Daily and monthly maintenance checks are important, but a forklift should have a thorough maintenance check at least once a year. You will also need to maintain your forklift to meet regulatory requirements.
Why Is Forklift Maintenance Important?
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) has general requirements for work equipment including forklifts. The PUWER states work equipment machinery should have a maintenance log that is up to date. The machinery should also be:
- In an efficient state
- In efficient working order
- In good repair
The maintenance of forklifts can also benefit you in different ways, such as:
- Improved safety: Maintaining your forklift can reduce the amount of malfunction that could happen. This makes it safer for the forklift operator and any other workers.
- Increased lifespan: Forklift maintenance means you can prevent minor problems becoming major ones. Spotting these early, you are less likely to pay for expensive repairs further down the line. The more you carry out forklift checks, you help increase their lifespan.
Forklift Maintenance Checklist
When it comes to the maintenance of a forklift, there are some things to take into consideration:
- If you are intensely using your forklift, you may need more regular maintenance to prevent any damage.
- Compared to new forklifts, older ones will require more maintenance to keep them running smoothly.
- You should pay more attention to any parts that flag up in your forklifts’ service. Keeping these regularly maintained can reduce the likelihood they break down.
Forklift Daily Checks
Making sure that everyone who is operating a forklift has a daily checklist is important. Not only does it flag any issues they might be having, they also help keep you safe. Some things your forklift daily checks should look at are:
- Tyres
- Fuel levels
- Engine oil levels
Forklift Monthly Checks
A monthly check is normally done after your forklift has done 200 hours of work. These checks are more in-depth than what you do daily. You should:
- Change the engine oil
- For electric forklifts, you should check the battery
- Clean the air filter
Forklift Yearly Checks
Your forklift must have a thorough check once a year. Yearly maintenance checks make sure your forklift is still performing at a high standard and is safe to operate. As part of this check, you should:
- Replace the brake fluid
- Replace the fuel filter
- Check the operation of the reverse light
Buy Safe Forklifts with Trucks Direct
The maintenance of your forklift is important to keep operations running in the best way they can. Our essential forklift maintenance checklist is a great way to keep on top of any repairs that might need doing to your forklift.
If you are looking for a new or used forklift, we supply a wide range. Our used forklifts are maintained to ensure we provide you with the best product available.
For any advice and information, get in touch with our team to get the right forklift for you.